Rail crossing



July 3, 1923.

M. SVALLAND' RAIL CROSSING Filed June 18. 1921 i 2 Sheets-Sheet d n. M m f m f a My July 3, 1923. 1,460,686

I M.SVALL AND RAIL CROSSING Filed Jun 18, 1 921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fa w gummmmg giu u I? 3m! ulflllllllllllllllllll g y 66 Mama;

Patented July 3, 1923.

I UNITED sr rEs T'o aZZ whom it may concern:

- Be it knownthat I, MARTIN SVA LAND, a citizen of the United States, residing-at New York city, borough of Manhattan, in the county and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Rail Crossing,

of which the following is a specification.

extending in angularwrela'tion to the rail on which-the wheel is'traveling; Duringthis interval, the wheel drops into the gutter of the angularly disposed rail and immediately thereafter climbs out of the opposite side thereof and proceeds along its way. "When a car is rapidly'moving along the track over xa crossing, the passage ofv the wheels across the transverse gutters causes the wheels to v momentarily leave" the rails, due tov their so g I to -the sharp knocks referred to eifects a time.

sharp impact with the transverse gutters, vand when the wheels again engage the rails, they do so with a relatively hard knock, 'which, in practice, has been found to efiect excessive Wear on the tracks adjacent the transverse gutters, as well as produce fractioning of the material of such rails at the cross-over. In t me, the rails become" so badly wornat the cross-over that the rail intersections, either become broken or so noisy as to be objectionable to residents in the locality and must thereupon be replaced. Furthermore, the pounding of wheels due crystallization of the material from which the cross-overs'are constructed, thereby-rendering the same liable to breakage at any In accordancewith the p resent invention,

the foregoing disadvantages are,- obviated through the provision of means associated with eachrail intersection for positively supporting awheel durin its passage over the transverse gutter. ario'us expedients have heretoforebeen suggested for'accomplishing this general result, butt'hey are, in the main, so expensive .to install as :to

render their use prohibitive. Moreover, they RAIL cnossme.

A lication-medium 1s, i921; Serial No. 478,523.

PATENT orFrc- MARTIN SVALLAND, or New Yonmn. Y.

are of'a bulky, cumbersome nature, which requires considerable space beneath the cross over, thereby necessitating"theiconstruction of a, masonry foundation-with archesand other engineering expedients to support the rail at the cross-over and-still leave beneath such'cross-over suflicient space for the hous ingofthe operatingmeans; Furthermore, v a o "many of'the prior devices are controlled electricallyl, a v

,The objectofthe; present invention. is to positively support wheels at the cross-over in a purely mechanical manner and by mechanism extremely simple'and effective in its operation; Moreover, toso'constitute such means that thevsupportingmeans lat each rail-intersection will be individually controlled that" is to say,-{ that the supporting means at each rail intersection-willabe con- "trolled by a car wheel approachingon the associated track-entirely,independently, of

the control of the supporting means atithe other ISJllY'i-ITitGISGCtlOIIS"Of the cross-oven,

' In a conventional'double tra'ckcrossover, where, for example, two tracks running north and south, are intersected by two other tracks, running east. and west,v there "are torrhed-lfirail intersections, which, in ac ,cordanc'e with-the present invention are in- .dividually controlled'and no one of which is dependent for its operation upon an'y of to attain unusual simplicityiin construction and compactness of the operating parts and can furthermore place the-controlling means so close tothe actual i-nterse'ction thatl'the intersection is guarded by the overhang of vthe car before the controlling means i'siop erated to prepare the rail cross-over for'the p'assage of the} forward wheels ofthe oar.'--"

thereo'ver,

3 1F eatures of the invention, other than those specified, will be apparent from'the hereinafter detailed description and claimsywhen ;readfin conjunction with the accompanying drawings; a y -The accompanyingdrawings illustrate vdifierent practical embodiments of theinvention, but "the constructions therein shown are tov be understood as illustrative, only, i and not as defining the liniits of the'invenv tion.

the others. :Bythis arrangement, I ama-ble Figure lshows arail intersection in which "the, present invention isassociated, said rail 1I1tBlS6Cl3l011b6111g shown in phantom'iri order that the operating parts associated there-- same; and,

'Figure 4 1s a perspective view of the with may be more clearly seen.

Figure 2 is ,a front elevation of thereonstruction shown in Figure l.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the modified form of lifting member which may, be employed in lieu .ofythe one shown in Figure 1.

Referring to. the, drawings, 5 designates a rail section extending, for example, in a north and south direction, and 6 designates an intersectingrail section extending inv an east: and west dlrection. These rail sections are formed en-bloc 1n the usual manner as by forging or welding and are suitably reinforced by webs or fillets, so as to givea rigid-construction at the intersection. The rail sections 5 and 6 are provided with gutters 5* and 6 which extend'in angular relation to one another and intersect at the center of the plug, and the outer'ends of each of the rail sections 5 and 6 are shaped to conform to rails adapted to be positioned in end abutting relation thereto and secured in position by fish plates and bolts passing through bolt holes 5 and 6 formed in the webs of the rail sections, as clearly shown inFigures 1 and 4:. A wheel passing along a rail'associated, for example. with the rail section 5 will, in passing the cross-over traverse the inner side of the gutter 5 across the intersection gutter 6 and pass ofi? ofthe cross-over and leave the same through the other section ofthe crossover.

In associating the presentinventiohwith a cross-over 'of the character specified, I employ two supporting plungers 7 and 8. These plungers may be of any desired con- 'struction, but are preferably rectangular in cross section and of a width substantially equal to the width of the gutters 5 and 6 The two plungers 7 and 8 are mounted for vertical reciprocationin vertical holes or guide ways extending through the intersection block and are made fiat at their upper ends. When in elevated posit-ions, the upper ends of the plungers 7 and 8 are adapted to come flush with the upper face of the cross-over block, while in depressed positions, they are adapted to come flush with the base of the gutters.

The plungers are positioned directly adjace'nt the intersectionof the gutters 5 'a-nd V 6 and the holes in which they operate ex- A tend downwardly from the bases of said gutters. These plungers are operated alternately in opposite directions by a web or cam member of any suitable construction :organized to raise one plunger and simultaneously permit of the depression of the other andv1ce versa, and for the purpose ,of illustration, I have shown two forms of w'edge'or cam member which may be utilized for this purpose. In Figures 1-3, this member, which may be broadly designated I an operating member, bears the reference character 9, and in Figure i, the modified form of operating member is designated by the same reference character. The operate ing member 9, as shown in Figure 1, is in the form of a plate secured for oscillation ion .a vertical spindle 10. A segmental por- -ti0n of the plate 9 is cut away and along the bordering radii of the cut away portion the plate is bevelled as at '7 and 8, so as to form two opposed wedges. The spindle 10' is so disposed as topositionthe operating member to control the operations of both of the plunge-rs 7 and'8, so that when the parts are in the position shown inFigpie 1, the plunger 8 Will be in lowered poplunger to fall'by gravity into its depressed position. It will thus appear that through theosci'llation of the spindle 10,'alt ernately in opposite directions, the operating plate may be caused to raise the-plunger? and depress the plunger 8 and vice versa. When i the plunger 7 is raised, the face of a wheel passing through the'channel 6 -will ride over the upperend of the plunger 7, while the plunger 8 will be withdrawn out "of the path of the flange of the wheel and when the wheel passes through the gutter 5 the plunger 7 will be retracted, while the face of the wheel will engage with theupper end of theplunger 8 during the passage of such wheel over the gutter 6% In order that the weight imposed. on thewheels may be properly supported-by the plungers 7 and 8,the operating member 91s supported from underneath by a firm and j rigid member 11, which may'eitherbe bolted to the intersection block or may be formed ntegral therewith. The operating member seats onthe top of the supporting member I and the weight transmitted to the operating member is carried directly by the-supporting member, so that bending of the o-perat ing member-will not occur;

It is essential for thewproperoperation of the cross-over that the positions of the plungers be accur-ately-controlleolso that they will-be in. proper position for-an approaching wheel. f

Inthe'preferred form-of this invention, the positions of'the' plunge-rs -.7 and 8 are controlled by two; controllingmembers 12 and 14. These two members may be of any suitable shape, but are shown=inthe form of plungers, mounted for vertical reciprocation in the bases of the gutters 5 and 6* at relatively short distances from the, supportingv plungers .7 and 8, respectively. These controlling plungers are moreover so connected with the supporting plungers 7 and 8, that when'a wheel flan e engages with the plunger 12, it will raise t e plunger 8, and -depress the plunger7-and when a wheel flange engages the plunger 14:, it Will depress the plungerl and the plunger 8 and simultaneously raise the plunger '7. The connections between the plungers 12 and 14: and the operating nember 9, wliich controls the movements of the plungers 7 and 8 may vary withoutdeparting from this invention, but for the purpose of illustration, I have shown these parts connected by links and levers. Thus the controlling plunger 12 is provided. with an aperture 15' into which projects; one arm-of a bell crank 16. The bell crank arm 16 is mounted for oscillation on a pivot 17 and the depending arm of. the belly crank is pivotally secured to a link 18. The other end of the link 18 is pivoted to an arm 19 formed rigid with the spindle 10.

In likemanner, the plunger 14: is aperttured' at 20 to receive-one arm ofa bell crank 21 pivoted at 22 and to the other arm of which is pivoted a link 23; The other end'of the link 23 is; pivoted to an arm 24 rigid with the spindle 10.

When a flange of-a wheel passing-along the gutter 5 engages the plunger 12, it will depress its plunger, and 'oscillatethe bell crank 16. This movement of the bell crank description that the present invention con will be transmitted through the link '18 to the arm 19 and cause rotation of the spindle 10 to move the operating plate from beneath the plunger 7. and allow the same to descend and simultaneously cause the wedge 8 to lift the plunger 8, so that by the time the wheel has reached the gutter 6 it will find ample support. on the upper end of the supporting plunger 8. A wheel passing along the gutter 6 will effect a similar operation on the controlling plunger 141:0 the end that the plunger 8 will be lowered and the plunger 7 elevated.

In carrying out this lnvention, the ar rangement of the character described is as.- sociated with each rail intersection, so that each intersection is" individually and locally controlled in a manner entirely-independent from all of the other rail intersectionsof' the group." It has not been considered necessary to illustrate a groupof' four. or sixteen intersections as a mere duplication is embodied in the construction.

It has not been considered. necessary moreover to detail the intersection block as the block may differ in'construction. In

' the drawings, the spindle 10 is shown as journaled at its ,lowerend in a depending yoke 25. It ;-will be understood, however,

that instead of positioning the links 18' and v 23 and the arms 19 and 24 below the block,

the block may be Slightly deeper and the levers housed directelytherein In practice, moreover, the operating adjuncts described as below the block may be housed within a metal casing or o-therwise'and may be kept-flooded in 'oil or other lubricant to assure their proper operation, although, in;

practice, this is notessential. The drawings illustrate the links and. levers as pivotally connected through hinge pins, but, in practice, these connections may be in the form of:

ball and: socket joints or any other formof oints which I may prefer to employ The upper ends of the controlling plungers 12 and 14 are shown with upper rounded ends, but, if desired, they maybe formedwith a tapering lead so that they will be more slowly engaged andgevenly operated by the flange of an .on-coming wheel. I

It will be apparent'that the operating plate shown in Figure & will function in the samemanner as the o-peratingplate'shown in Figures 1-3, the differences being purely constructional, but the device of Figure 4 being stronger and more durable in con struction than that of Figures 1-3. In the accompanying drawings, the plungers 7 and 8 are, shown as controlled from only, one direction, yet it'will be understood that by duplicating the control construction on the other side of theintersection, these'plungers may be controlledfrom both directions.

Itwill be apparent'from the foregoing up bya firm metal foundation sothatthe' operating mechanism does not have to carry any strain whatsoever; This construction is such as to minimize wear and obviate breakage;

vI am aware that various changes-in mechanical detail may be made in the present invention withoutdeparting from the spirit thereof and. the'same is to be understood as broadly novel as is commensurate with the appended claims. .Iavingthus 'fullydescribed the invention, whatI claimas newand desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 1

v 1. A railcrossover, embodying two intersecting rails, each of WlJlChilS provided with a gap to permit the passage of the flange of a wheel on the other, a wheel supporting member for bridging each gap, a rotary operating member adaptedt'o move one sup porting member into supporting position and to simultaneously permit the retraction oi the other supporting member,-and controlling means associated with each rail for rotating the operating member, said operating' member being constituted to remain in t'he'position is placed'by the controlling means or" one rail until it is positively ro= tate'd to another position by the controlling means of the other rail.'

2. A rail crossoverembodying a body portion provided with intersecting gutters, a

a-tive to allow the wheel to pass-the intersection and be supported during such passage. v

3. A rail cross-over embodying a body portion provided with intersecting gutters,

wheel supporting plungermounted for reciprocation through the base of each gut ter adjacent theintersection thereof, a rotary operating member common'to bothi plungers for simultaneously moving one supporting member into supporting position and permitting the other to move out of supporting' position, a controlling mom bcr associated. with each gutter, at a dis tance from the intersection of the gutters, and operative connections between both controlling members and the operating member, whereby. the operation of sai'dsupporting 'members may be eifected by a Wheel traversing either gutter and rendered operative to allow the wheel to passthe intersection and be supported during such passage. v

4. A rail cross-over embodying body portion provided with intersecting gutters, a wheel supporting plunger mounted for reciprocation through the base of each gutter adjacent the intersection thereof, a rotary operating member common to both plungers and adapted when operated to lift one of them into -wheel supporting position and to simultaneously permitthed'ropping of the other to allow awheel flange to pass, a controlling member associated with each gutter and adapted to be actuated by an 011+ coming wheel, and operative connections Io'eand the ent of the operatingmembers of the other intersections and being individually coutrolled, "and means associated with both rails at each intersection, and separate-from the operating members, for controlling the sociated operating members, each operating member being constituted to remain in the position it is placed by the controlling means of "one rail, "until it is positively shifted by the controlling means of the associated intersecting rail. v

6. A rail cross-over embodying agi' heel supporting plunger associated with each rail adjacent the gap of the intersection, a rotary plunger operating member common to both plungers, and mechanical controlling means operable by an approaching wheel for actuating the common operating Diem-- her to move the plui' i'g'er of the rail on which the wheel is moving into wheel supporting position and to simultaneously permit the plunger'of the transverse rail to move into non-supporting position,

a 7. A track crossover, embodying four in tersecting rails, a wheel supporting member associated with each rail, at each intersection, a rotary operating member for operating the two supporting membersat each rail intersection, and means, operable b'ya moving car, for actuating each of the rotary operating members, individually and independently of all the other operating members.

8. A rail crossover, embodying a pair of intersecting rails, supporting member I associated with each rail,"for bridgingthe gap at the crossover of such rails at the intersection, a rotary we'dgelike member associatedwith the intersecting rails and serving as a common operating means for both supporting members, and means associated with each rail, and operable by an approchin wheel, f r controlling the positions f the wedgolike member to move one of'the,

supporting members into position to support an oncoming-wheel and to simultaneously permit the oth r supoortino member to move out ofthe path f the flange f. said wheel.

9. In a rail crossover, a body" portion embodying intersecti g gutters adapted" to be traversed by wheel flanges, a wheel; supporting plunger operating through the gap of each gutter, adjacent the intersection of said utters, a oamniember cooperable with, the lower ends of the plungers and adapted to elevate one plunger. into position wherein its upper end will be flush with the upper face of the body portion and simultaneously 7 permit the other plunger to descend so that its upper end Will be retracted from the gutter in which it is positioned, a controlling plunger associated with each gutter at a distance from the intersection; and operative connections between the controlling plungers and the cam member whereby the depression of one of the controlling plungers 10 i will effect a depression of the supporting plunger in the same gutter, and simultaneously elevate the controlling plunger and supporting plunger of the other gutter and vice versa.

In testimony whereof I have signed the foregoing specification.

MARTIN SVALLAND. 

